Moving very carefully, one eye always on her surroundings, Natasha will examine the tree. She won't touch it at first, just looking for anything out of place or that might hide some cache for a message or a dead drop.
Under the second lowest tree limb are purposefully made gashes, separated by space and not in a straight line. Two are perpendicular, and one is slanted. If they were right beside each other, they might even form a crude ‘N’.
One the other side of the slanted notch, topside of the tree limb, there is a loose panel of bark. Once Natasha's fingers hit it, the bark moves. Under it is a hollowed out cache with a piece of paper inside, but at first glance, the words make no sense.
Behind her, are two letters carved into the trunk, like initials, but they serve as the key to the cipher in front of her. Once deciphered the paper reads:
After tomorrow night swans will start to appear in the lake before you.
After the 19th, whether sinners have reported some of their number missing or not, let Lucifer know you saw demons in straw hats come from the West, but thought nothing of it at the time. He should want to retrieve the swans. If he does not, persuade him. Get the other sinners to help you put pressure on him. Do whatever it takes to make sure the swans will be rescued.
Report back to Balaam with results. We will take it from there if you fail.
Natasha takes a picture of the message and the cipher as well, also saved in case she needs the evidence in the future, and tucks the note away.
There's not much choice other than to go to Lucifer about it. It's her assignment from both sides—a double agent, and what better way to get Lucifer to retrieve to swans than to tell him the Veiled Order wants him to? To spring the trap intentionally.
At the same time, it is clearly a trap isn't it? Even without her involvement, he likely would have done the same.
They'll have to be cautious, but from her perspective playing along has to be their play.
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Does Natasha climb the tree to further inspect?
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Does Natasha look around?
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After tomorrow night swans will start to appear in the lake before you.
After the 19th, whether sinners have reported some of their number missing or not, let Lucifer know you saw demons in straw hats come from the West, but thought nothing of it at the time. He should want to retrieve the swans. If he does not, persuade him. Get the other sinners to help you put pressure on him. Do whatever it takes to make sure the swans will be rescued.
Report back to Balaam with results. We will take it from there if you fail.
no subject
There's not much choice other than to go to Lucifer about it. It's her assignment from both sides—a double agent, and what better way to get Lucifer to retrieve to swans than to tell him the Veiled Order wants him to? To spring the trap intentionally.
At the same time, it is clearly a trap isn't it? Even without her involvement, he likely would have done the same.
They'll have to be cautious, but from her perspective playing along has to be their play.